FRIDAY, March 29, 2024
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Crossing boundaries

Crossing boundaries

In movement there was ferocity both on an off the stage at Singapore's dance festival

ESPLANADE – THEATRES on the Bay’s annual da:ns festival celebrated its 10th anniversary last month, and as always, it offered plenty of performances you cannot see elsewhere, not just in Singapore but the region.
Co-produced by the Esplanade with many international dance and theatre festivals and companies, “Torobaka”, a new collaboration by Kathak master Akram Khan and his flamenco counterpart Israel Galvan, is nothing short of a masterpiece. Both traditionally trained artists are known for experimenting with their traditional forms. With both solo and duet parts, the performance was never predictable and the energy always riveting throughout the entire 70 minutes and it was evident that both have found much common ground as well as differences. Although both have high respect for each other’s tradition, they occasionally stepped across the boundary to try movements they have never done before.
Khan is known for his collaboration with artists from different backgrounds, including actress Juliette Binoche; Galvan is quite the opposite and his solo works have garnered international attention. But while it sounds as though the former would easily win this battle; Galvan’s striking stage presence made up for his disadvantage. And after all, this is not a battle; it’s a meeting of two new friends.
And while the audience bought their tickets to watch Khan and Galvan, they were also delighted by the collaboration of the musicians and singers of different traditions.
For the backstage site-specific work “Impulse”, Korean choreographer Kim Jae Duk, creative director of Modern Table Dance Company, worked with dancers of Singapore’s T.H.E. Dance Company.
The result was one of the da:ns festival’s biggest hits, not least because some lucky members of the audience were allowed to go to backstage area of the national performing arts centre, usually off limits for non-artists and non-staff, spending time at loading ramp, a freight elevator and a scene shop.
Kim, who also composed the music, was especially keen and playful in how he used the different spaces, where to place his audience as well as how one scene would lead to another. Lighting consultant Andy Lim also deserved much credit as each selected corner looked like an ordinary workspace yet his lighting turned it into a stage, or a movie set. The local dancers also looked tireless too and willing to take on any challenge in any space Kim gave them.
Some artists have found their signature styles and rely on them to create every new work; others take more risks and engage in collaboration and continue learning and developing with their partners-in-crime.
For us, the audience, we just have to keep our eyes, and very frequently ears, open and then our minds will realise that possibility is almost limitless in contemporary arts.
 NEXT AT
THE DURIAN
- The Esplanade’s annual Kalaa Utsavam – Indian Festival of Arts, with traditional and modern dance music and theatre, runs from November 20 to 29.
- For more details, www.Esplanade.com.
 

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